scholarly journals Redundant Catalases Detoxify Phagocyte Reactive Oxygen and Facilitate Histoplasma capsulatum Pathogenesis

2013 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 2334-2346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric D. Holbrook ◽  
Katherine A. Smolnycki ◽  
Brian H. Youseff ◽  
Chad A. Rappleye

ABSTRACTHistoplasma capsulatumis a respiratory pathogen that infects phagocytic cells. The mechanisms allowingHistoplasmato overcome toxic reactive oxygen molecules produced by the innate immune system are an integral part ofHistoplasma's ability to survive during infection. To probe the contribution ofHistoplasmacatalases in oxidative stress defense, we created and analyzed the virulence defects of mutants lacking CatB and CatP, which are responsible for extracellular and intracellular catalase activities, respectively. Both CatB and CatP protectedHistoplasmafrom peroxide challengein vitroand from antimicrobial reactive oxygen produced by human neutrophils and activated macrophages. Optimal protection required both catalases, as the survival of a double mutant lacking both CatB and CatP was lower than that of single-catalase-deficient cells. Although CatB contributed to reactive oxygen species defensesin vitro, CatB was dispensable for lung infection and extrapulmonary disseminationin vivo. Loss of CatB from a strain also lacking superoxide dismutase (Sod3) did not further reduce the survival ofHistoplasmayeasts. Nevertheless, some catalase function was required for pathogenesis since simultaneous loss of both CatB and CatP attenuatedHistoplasmavirulencein vivo. These results demonstrate thatHistoplasma's dual catalases comprise a system that enablesHistoplasmato efficiently overcome the reactive oxygen produced by the innate immune system.

mSphere ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
George Sakoulas ◽  
Monika Kumaraswamy ◽  
Armin Kousha ◽  
Victor Nizet

ABSTRACT It is becoming increasingly understood that the current paradigms of in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing may have significant shortcomings in predicting activity in vivo. This study evaluated the activity of several antibiotics alone and in combination against clinical isolates of Salmonella enterica serotype Newport (meningitis case) utilizing both conventional and physiological media. In addition, the interactions of these antibiotics with components of the innate immune system were evaluated. Azithromycin, which has performed quite well clinically despite high MICs in conventional media, was shown to be more active in physiological media and to enhance innate immune system killing. Alternatively, chloramphenicol did not show enhanced immune system killing, paralleling its inferior clinical performance to other antibiotics that have been used to treat Salmonella meningitis. These findings are important additions to the building understanding of current in vitro antimicrobial assay limitations that hopefully will amount to future improvements in these assays to better predict clinical efficacy and activity in vivo. This study examines the pharmacodynamics of antimicrobials that are used to treat Salmonella with each other and with key components of the innate immune system. Antimicrobial synergy was assessed using time-kill and checkerboard assays. Antimicrobial interactions with innate immunity were studied by employing cathelicidin LL-37, whole-blood, and neutrophil killing assays. Ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin were found to be synergistic in vitro against Salmonella enterica serotype Newport. Ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin each demonstrated synergy with the human cathelicidin defense peptide LL-37 in killing Salmonella. Exposure of Salmonella to sub-MICs of ceftriaxone resulted in enhanced susceptibility to LL-37, whole blood, and neutrophil killing. The activity of antibiotics in vivo against Salmonella may be underestimated in bacteriologic media lacking components of innate immunity. The pharmacodynamic interactions of antibiotics used to treat Salmonella with each other and with components of innate immunity warrant further study in light of recent findings showing in vivo selection of antimicrobial resistance by single agents in this pathogen. IMPORTANCE It is becoming increasingly understood that the current paradigms of in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing may have significant shortcomings in predicting activity in vivo. This study evaluated the activity of several antibiotics alone and in combination against clinical isolates of Salmonella enterica serotype Newport (meningitis case) utilizing both conventional and physiological media. In addition, the interactions of these antibiotics with components of the innate immune system were evaluated. Azithromycin, which has performed quite well clinically despite high MICs in conventional media, was shown to be more active in physiological media and to enhance innate immune system killing. Alternatively, chloramphenicol did not show enhanced immune system killing, paralleling its inferior clinical performance to other antibiotics that have been used to treat Salmonella meningitis. These findings are important additions to the building understanding of current in vitro antimicrobial assay limitations that hopefully will amount to future improvements in these assays to better predict clinical efficacy and activity in vivo.


2013 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 405-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasha J. Rose ◽  
Luiz E. Bermudez

ABSTRACTMycobacterium aviumsubsp.hominissuisis an opportunistic human pathogen that has been shown to form biofilmin vitroandin vivo. Biofilm formationin vivoappears to be associated with infections in the respiratory tract of the host. The reasoning behind howM. aviumsubsp.hominissuisbiofilm is allowed to establish and persist without being cleared by the innate immune system is currently unknown. To identify the mechanism responsible for this, we developed anin vitromodel using THP-1 human mononuclear phagocytes cocultured with establishedM. aviumsubsp.hominissuisbiofilm and surveyed various aspects of the interaction, including phagocyte stimulation and response, bacterial killing, and apoptosis.M. aviumsubsp.hominissuisbiofilm triggered robust tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) release from THP-1 cells as well as superoxide and nitric oxide production. Surprisingly, the hyperstimulated phagocytes did not effectively eliminate the cells of the biofilm, even when prestimulated with gamma interferon (IFN-γ) or TNF-α or cocultured with natural killer cells (which have been shown to induce anti-M. aviumsubsp.hominissuisactivity when added to THP-1 cells infected with planktonicM. aviumsubsp.hominissuis). Time-lapse microscopy and the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling) assay determined that contact with theM. aviumsubsp.hominissuisbiofilm led to early, widespread onset of apoptosis, which is not seen until much later in planktonicM. aviumsubsp.hominissuisinfection. Blocking TNF-α or TNF-R1 during interaction with the biofilm significantly reduced THP-1 apoptosis but did not lead to elimination ofM. aviumsubsp.hominissuis. Our data collectively indicate thatM. aviumsubsp.hominissuisbiofilm induces TNF-α-driven hyperstimulation and apoptosis of surveilling phagocytes, which prevents clearance of the biofilm by cells of the innate immune system and allows the biofilm-associated infection to persist.


2013 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 2043-2052 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yash R. Patankar ◽  
Rustin R. Lovewell ◽  
Matthew E. Poynter ◽  
Jeevan Jyot ◽  
Barbara I. Kazmierczak ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTWe previously demonstrated that bacterial flagellar motility is a fundamental mechanism by which host phagocytes bind and ingest bacteria. Correspondingly, loss of bacterial motility, consistently observed in clinical isolates from chronicPseudomonas aeruginosainfections, enables bacteria to evade association and ingestion ofP. aeruginosaby phagocytes bothin vitroandin vivo. Since bacterial interactions with the phagocyte cell surface are required for type three secretion system-dependent NLRC4 inflammasome activation byP. aeruginosa, we hypothesized that reduced bacterial association with phagocytes due to loss of bacterial motility, independent of flagellar expression, will lead to reduced inflammasome activation. Here we report that inflammasome activation is reduced in response to nonmotileP. aeruginosa. NonmotileP. aeruginosaelicits reduced IL-1β production as well as caspase-1 activation by peritoneal macrophages and bone marrow-derived dendritic cellsin vitro. Importantly, nonmotileP. aeruginosaalso elicits reduced IL-1β levelsin vivoin comparison to those elicited by wild-typeP. aeruginosa. This is the first demonstration that loss of bacterial motility results in reduced inflammasome activation and antibacterial IL-1β host response. These results provide a critical insight into how the innate immune system responds to bacterial motility and, correspondingly, how pathogens have evolved mechanisms to evade the innate immune system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A235-A235
Author(s):  
Osiris Marroquin Belaunzaran ◽  
Anahita Rafiei ◽  
Anil Kumar ◽  
Julia Kolibaba ◽  
Lorenz Vogt ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe human leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor family B (LILR B) acts as check point blockade of the innate immune system by inhibiting leukocyte activation through SHP phosphatase recruitment. Some of the physiological ligands include classical HLA class I molecules, including beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) free open conformers (OC). Natural HLA-OC expression is known from autoimmune disease leading to immune activation by pleiotropic effects since they bind to LILRB and KIR family members reducing Treg and MDSC numbers and increased effector T-cell and NK-cell activation, respectively. We have generated an IgG4-HLA-57 open conformer (OC) molecule (iosH2) with high affinity for LILRB molecules and demonstrate its anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo.Methods iosH2 was produced by transient gene expression in CHO cells and purified by standard chromatography. Affinity of iosH2 binding was quantified by ELISA and SPR analysis. HLA-G mediated signaling and competition was assessed using functional cell lines. Effect of iosH2 on activation of SHP1/2 was assessed using Western Blot. Functional assays including in vitro polarization and phagocytosis potential of primary macrophages was assessed by flow cytometry in the presence of iosH2 or isotype control. Effect of iosH2 on T cell activation was evaluated in co-cultures of cancer and T cells. Mouse models were used to assess in vivo activity.Results iosH2 binds to LILRB2 with high affinity and blocks the activation of HLA-G. In addition, iosH2 blocks receptor-mediated activation of SHP1/2. iosH2 promotes a shift from M2 to M1 macrophages with enhanced tumor cell phagocytosis in vitro. iosH2 enhances activation and killing potential of T cells in cancer cells and T cells co-culture assay. iosH2 exerts therapeutic efficacy in mouse transgenic (melanoma) and different syngeneic tumor models (e.g. pancreatic, colon and breast cancer) as monotherapy. Moreover, it acts synergistically in vivo with PD1 blocking antibodies achieving long-term tumor control. Ex vivo tumor sample analysis demonstrates a significant reduction of MDSC and Tregs and a shift towards an activated inflammatory M1 macrophage phenotype. Loss of MDSC functionality was paralleled by enhanced CD8+ T cell expansion and activity.Conclusions iosH2 binds to LILRB2 with high affinity, restores immune cell function in vitro and demonstrates anti-tumor activity in different in vivo mouse models. In addition, it acts synergistically in vivo with PD1. iosH2 is a first-in-class OC therapeutic with robust anti-tumor activity by promoting key components of the innate immune system. Clinical development is under way and phase I trial in preparation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhishikta Basu ◽  
Maki Yoshihama ◽  
Tamayo Uechi ◽  
Naoya Kenmochi

Abstract Objectives Cell-culture studies reported that prokaryotic RNA molecules among the various microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) were uniquely present in live bacteria and were categorized as viability-associated MAMPs. They also reported that specific nucleotide modifications are instrumental in the discrimination between self and nonself RNAs. The aim of this study was to characterize the in vivo immune induction potential of prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) using zebrafish embryos as novel whole animal model system. Additionally, we aimed to test the possible role of rRNA modifications in immune recognition. Results We used three immune markers to evaluate the induction potential of prokaryotic rRNA derived from Escherichia coli and eukaryotic rRNAs from chicken (nonself) and zebrafish (self). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa served as a positive control. E. coli rRNA had an induction potential equivalent to that of LPS. The zebrafish innate immune system could discriminate between self and nonself rRNAs. Between the nonself rRNAs, E. coli rRNA was more immunogenic than chicken rRNA. The in vitro transcript of zebrafish 18S rRNA gene without the nucleotide modifications was not recognized by its own immune system. Our data suggested that prokaryotic rRNA is immunostimulatory in vivo and could be useful as an adjuvant.


2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 932-944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly M. Brothers ◽  
Zachary R. Newman ◽  
Robert T. Wheeler

ABSTRACTCandida albicansis a human commensal and a clinically important fungal pathogen that grows in both yeast and hyphal forms during human infection. AlthoughCandidacan cause cutaneous and mucosal disease, systemic infections cause the greatest mortality in hospitals. Candidemia occurs primarily in immunocompromised patients, for whom the innate immune system plays a paramount role in immunity. We have developed a novel transparent vertebrate model of candidemia to probe the molecular nature ofCandida-innate immune system interactions in an intact host. Our zebrafish infection model results in a lethal disseminated disease that shares important traits with disseminated candidiasis in mammals, including dimorphic fungal growth, dependence on hyphal growth for virulence, and dependence on the phagocyte NADPH oxidase for immunity. Dual imaging of fluorescently marked immune cells and fungi revealed that phagocytosed yeast cells can remain viable and even divide within macrophages without germinating. Similarly, although we observed apparently killed yeast cells within neutrophils, most yeast cells within these innate immune cells were viable. Exploiting this model, we combined intravital imaging with gene knockdown to show for the first time that NADPH oxidase is required for regulation ofC. albicansfilamentationin vivo. The transparent and easily manipulated larval zebrafish model promises to provide a unique tool for dissecting the molecular basis of phagocyte NADPH oxidase-mediated limitation of filamentous growthin vivo.


2016 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis A. Vega ◽  
Kayla M. Valdes ◽  
Ganesh S. Sundar ◽  
Ashton T. Belew ◽  
Emrul Islam ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTAs an exclusively human pathogen,Streptococcus pyogenes(the group A streptococcus [GAS]) has specifically adapted to evade host innate immunity and survive in multiple tissue niches, including blood. GAS can overcome the metabolic constraints of the blood environment and expresses various immunomodulatory factors necessary for survival and immune cell resistance. Here we present our investigation of one such factor, the predicted LysR family transcriptional regulator CpsY. The encoding gene,cpsY, was initially identified as being required for GAS survival in a transposon-site hybridization (TraSH) screen in whole human blood. CpsY is homologous with transcriptional regulators ofStreptococcus mutans(MetR),Streptococcus iniae(CpsY), andStreptococcus agalactiae(MtaR) that regulate methionine transport, amino acid metabolism, resistance to neutrophil-mediated killing, and survivalin vivo. Our investigation indicated that CpsY is involved in GAS resistance to innate immune cells of its human host. However, GAS CpsY does not manifest thein vitrophenotypes of its homologs in other streptococcal species. GAS CpsY appears to regulate a small set of genes that is markedly different from the regulons of its homologs. The differential expression of these genes depends on the growth medium, and CpsY modestly influences their expression. The GAS CpsY regulon includes known virulence factors (mntE,speB,spd,nga[spn],prtS[SpyCEP], andsse) and cell surface-associated factors of GAS (emm1,mur1.2,sibA[cdhA], andM5005_Spy0500). Intriguingly, the loss of CpsY in GAS does not result in virulence defects in murine models of infection, suggesting that CpsY function in immune evasion is specific to the human host.


mBio ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona M. Rudkin ◽  
Judith M. Bain ◽  
Catriona Walls ◽  
Leanne E. Lewis ◽  
Neil A. R. Gow ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT An important first line of defense against Candida albicans infections is the killing of fungal cells by professional phagocytes of the innate immune system, such as polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and macrophages. In this study, we employed live-cell video microscopy coupled with dynamic image analysis tools to provide insights into the complexity of C. albicans phagocytosis when macrophages and PMNs were incubated with C. albicans alone and when both phagocyte subsets were present. When C. albicans cells were incubated with only one phagocyte subtype, PMNs had a lower overall phagocytic capacity than macrophages, despite engulfing fungal cells at a higher rate once fungal cells were bound to the phagocyte surface. PMNs were more susceptible to C. albicans-mediated killing than macrophages, irrespective of the number of C. albicans cells ingested. In contrast, when both phagocyte subsets were studied in coculture, the two cell types phagocytosed and cleared C. albicans at equal rates and were equally susceptible to killing by the fungus. The increase in macrophage susceptibility to C. albicans-mediated killing was a consequence of macrophages taking up a higher proportion of hyphal cells under these conditions. In the presence of both PMNs and macrophages, C. albicans yeast cells were predominantly cleared by PMNs, which migrated at a greater speed toward fungal cells and engulfed bound cells more rapidly. These observations demonstrate that the phagocytosis of fungal pathogens depends on, and is modified by, the specific phagocyte subsets present at the site of infection. IMPORTANCE Extensive work investigating fungal cell phagocytosis by macrophages and PMNs of the innate immune system has been carried out. These studies have been informative but have examined this phenomenon only when one phagocyte subset is present. The current study employed live-cell video microscopy to break down C. albicans phagocytosis into its component parts and examine the effect of a single phagocyte subset, versus a mixed phagocyte population, on these individual stages. Through this approach, we identified that the rate of fungal cell engulfment and rate of phagocyte killing altered significantly when both macrophages and PMNs were incubated in coculture with C. albicans compared to the rate of either phagocyte subset incubated alone with the fungus. This research highlights the significance of studying pathogen-host cell interactions with a combination of phagocytes in order to gain a greater understanding of the interactions that occur between cells of the host immune system in response to fungal invasion.


2013 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 3855-3864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir I. Tukhvatulin ◽  
Ilya I. Gitlin ◽  
Dmitry V. Shcheblyakov ◽  
Natalia M. Artemicheva ◽  
Lyudmila G. Burdelya ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTPathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) are essential components of host innate immune systems that detect specific conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) presented by microorganisms. Members of two families of PRRs, transmembrane Toll-like receptors (TLRs 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6) and cytosolic NOD receptors (NOD1 and NOD2), are stimulated upon recognition of various bacterial PAMPs. Such stimulation leads to induction of a number of immune defense reactions, mainly triggered via activation of the transcription factor NF-κB. While coordination of responses initiated via different PRRs sensing multiple PAMPS present during an infection makes clear biological sense for the host, such interactions have not been fully characterized. Here, we demonstrate that combined stimulation of NOD1 and TLR5 (as well as other NOD and TLR family members) strongly potentiates activity of NF-κB and induces enhanced levels of innate immune reactions (e.g., cytokine production) bothin vitroandin vivo. Moreover, we show that an increased level of NF-κB activity plays a critical role in formation of downstream responses. In live mice, synergy between these receptors resulting in potentiation of NF-κB activity was organ specific, being most prominent in the gastrointestinal tract. Coordinated activity of NOD1 and TLR5 significantly increased protection of mice against enteroinvasiveSalmonellainfection. Obtained results suggest that cooperation of NOD and TLR receptors is important for effective responses to microbial infectionin vivo.


2020 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenessa A. Winston ◽  
Alissa J. Rivera ◽  
Jingwei Cai ◽  
Rajani Thanissery ◽  
Stephanie A. Montgomery ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is associated with increasing morbidity and mortality posing an urgent threat to public health. Recurrence of CDI after successful treatment with antibiotics is high, thus necessitating discovery of novel therapeutics against this enteric pathogen. Administration of the secondary bile acid ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA; ursodiol) inhibits the life cycles of various strains of C. difficile in vitro, suggesting that the FDA-approved formulation of UDCA, known as ursodiol, may be able to restore colonization resistance against C. difficile in vivo. However, the mechanism(s) by which ursodiol is able to restore colonization resistance against C. difficile remains unknown. Here, we confirmed that ursodiol inhibits C. difficile R20291 spore germination and outgrowth, growth, and toxin activity in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. In a murine model of CDI, exogenous administration of ursodiol resulted in significant alterations in the bile acid metabolome with little to no changes in gut microbial community structure. Ursodiol pretreatment resulted in attenuation of CDI pathogenesis early in the course of disease, which coincided with alterations in the cecal and colonic inflammatory transcriptome, bile acid-activated receptors nuclear farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and transmembrane G-protein-coupled membrane receptor 5 (TGR5), which are able to modulate the innate immune response through signaling pathways such as NF-κB. Although ursodiol pretreatment did not result in a consistent decrease in the C. difficile life cycle in vivo, it was able to attenuate an overly robust inflammatory response that is detrimental to the host during CDI. Ursodiol remains a viable nonantibiotic treatment and/or prevention strategy against CDI. Likewise, modulation of the host innate immune response via bile acid-activated receptors FXR and TGR5 represents a new potential treatment strategy for patients with CDI.


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